painted tail lights
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
From: Red Oak Texas
painted tail lights
How many of you do it and how hard is it?? I was thinking about painting all my lights except the head lights and reverse lights. Just wanted to know if the paint is durable and easy to put on???
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 5,210
Likes: 104
From: Fort Worth TX
St. Jude Donor '06
Father & Son St. Jude Donor '09
I used House of Kolor clear with ~15% black 6:1 ratio. The I added the reducer and catalyst. I prefer to over reduce black out clear by ~25%.
Sand the plastic lens smooth, remove the raised letters. I ended my sanding with 600 grit wet. Wash them with water and a little dawn, blow dry and don't touch the surface with your fingers.
You can use an airbrush or a mini/detail gun. Normally you'd spray the 1st coat of clear medium wet, don't, spray it thin and don't allow much flash time and add a 2nd thin coat (it'll start to flow). Same thing for the 3rd and 4th coats. Be sure to spray evenly and as they start to darken, back the gun way more than normal.
I'm sure you could use any quality clear and black; PPG, DuPont, etc.
For the front corner lights, be sure to add 2-3 coats of pure clear so you can wet sand and buff them after rocks scar the surface over time.
Sand the plastic lens smooth, remove the raised letters. I ended my sanding with 600 grit wet. Wash them with water and a little dawn, blow dry and don't touch the surface with your fingers.
You can use an airbrush or a mini/detail gun. Normally you'd spray the 1st coat of clear medium wet, don't, spray it thin and don't allow much flash time and add a 2nd thin coat (it'll start to flow). Same thing for the 3rd and 4th coats. Be sure to spray evenly and as they start to darken, back the gun way more than normal.
I'm sure you could use any quality clear and black; PPG, DuPont, etc.
For the front corner lights, be sure to add 2-3 coats of pure clear so you can wet sand and buff them after rocks scar the surface over time.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,263
Likes: 0
From: Paducah Kentucky
I used House of Kolor clear with ~15% black 6:1 ratio. The I added the reducer and catalyst. I prefer to over reduce black out clear by ~25%.
Sand the plastic lens smooth, remove the raised letters. I ended my sanding with 600 grit wet. Wash them with water and a little dawn, blow dry and don't touch the surface with your fingers.
You can use an airbrush or a mini/detail gun. Normally you'd spray the 1st coat of clear medium wet, don't, spray it thin and don't allow much flash time and add a 2nd thin coat (it'll start to flow). Same thing for the 3rd and 4th coats. Be sure to spray evenly and as they start to darken, back the gun way more than normal.
I'm sure you could use any quality clear and black; PPG, DuPont, etc.
For the front corner lights, be sure to add 2-3 coats of pure clear so you can wet sand and buff them after rocks scar the surface over time.
Sand the plastic lens smooth, remove the raised letters. I ended my sanding with 600 grit wet. Wash them with water and a little dawn, blow dry and don't touch the surface with your fingers.
You can use an airbrush or a mini/detail gun. Normally you'd spray the 1st coat of clear medium wet, don't, spray it thin and don't allow much flash time and add a 2nd thin coat (it'll start to flow). Same thing for the 3rd and 4th coats. Be sure to spray evenly and as they start to darken, back the gun way more than normal.
I'm sure you could use any quality clear and black; PPG, DuPont, etc.
For the front corner lights, be sure to add 2-3 coats of pure clear so you can wet sand and buff them after rocks scar the surface over time.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 304
Likes: 0
From: Walnut Creek, CA California
I've heard if you remove the raised lettering it makes the lights not "DOT approved" anymore. I tinted my lights with VHT night shades and they turned out perfect, I did a little right up search for HOW TO: tint your tail lights and hopefully it helps. good luck
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
From: Red Oak Texas
can you send me the link to your write up, I can't seem to find it. I might be doing something wrong.
